Multiple roll tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A multiple roll tape dispenser having base means with upwardly extending tape severing edge means and a pair of spaced, substantially parallel plates rigidly secured to and extending upwardly from the base means. Hollow cylindrical roll support means has a pair of spaced slots in one side thereof, each slot defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the cylinder, the upper edges of said plates being slideably receivable into said slots. Cooperating releasable lock means on said cylinder and said plates positively oppose relative movement between said cylinder and said plates toward and away from the tape severing edge means.

United States Patent Lash Oct. 30, 1973 MULTIPLE ROLL TAPE DISPENSER 1,018,817 2/1912 Farrell 242 552 Inventor: Donald w. Lash Grand R p 1,069,961 8/1913 Kuczynskl... 242/552 Mlch Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz [73] Assignee: The E. 0. Bulman Manufacturing Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden Company, Inc., Grand Rapids, AttorneyWoodhams et al. Mich. [22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT A multiple roll tape dispenser having base means with PP 1961389 upwardly extending tape severing edge means and a pair of spaced, substantially parallel plates rigidly se- 52 us. c1 225/34, 225/77, 242/68 cured and extending upwardly from the base [51] Int. Cl B26f 3/02 means Hollow cylindrical support means has a [58 1 Field of Search ..225/34-38, 46, 66, Pair Of Spaced Side them, each 225/77; 242/552, 553 68 fining a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the cylinder, the upper edges of said plates [56] References Cited being slideably receivable into said slots. Cooperating UNTED STATES PATENTS releasable lock means on said cylinder and said plates positively oppose relatlve movement between said golstter et al 225/34 cylinder and Said plates toward and away from h a1 ram 3,322,359 5/1967 Dales et al.. severmg edge means 2,551,190 5/1951 Walker 242/553 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE ROLL TAPE DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a multiple roll tape dispenser and, more particularly, to the type thereof which can be mounted upon a bench or counter for stability and which permits quick and easy change or replacement of rolls of adhesive tape, particularly of the type used in packaging operations.

Persons acquainted with the old and well known art of securing packages by means of pressure sensitive adhesive tape are aware that many such dispensers have been developed and are in use. However, existing dispensers for multiple rolls of adhesive tape are either too expensive, too complicated to use, difficult to reload, bulky, unsightly or, for one or more other reasons, not completely satisfactory. Thus, the need still exists for an improved multiple roll tape dispenser which avoids all of the foregoing problems or limitations.

Especially just prior to holidays, it is desirable to have rolls of several different types of adhesive tape readily available for packaging operations. Yet, it is frequently undesirable to have a dispenser of such multiple rolls available at all other times of the year. Thus, the need has long existed for an inexpensive, efficient and easily operated multiple roll tape dispenser which can be readily and quickly put into operation without involving a substantial investment of time or expense.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a multiple roll tape dispenser, as aforesaid, which is readily and easily adaptable to handle rolls of adhesive tape having varying widths and diameters.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the following descriptivematerial and examining the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the invention and in its normal operating position,

FIG. 2 is a rear-end elevational view of said dispenser, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII in FIG. 2.

For convenience in description, the terms upper", lower", front", rear and words of similar import will have reference to a dispenser as appearing in FIG. 2, which is a rear view thereof. The words inner, outer and derivatives thereof, will have reference to the geometric center of said dispenser and parts thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing a multiple roll dispenser having a base frame including a mounting plate, an integral upright flange at the front end of the mounting plate, and a pair of parallel support plates secured to the mounting plate and extending upwardly therefrom remote from and perpendicular to the upright flange. A cutting edge member is secured to the upper end of the upright flange and a cylindrical roll support is removably mounted upon the upper edges of the parallel plates. Interlock means is provided between the plates and cylinder for preventing relative movement towards and away from the cutting edge member. The'adhesive tape rolls are mounted upon the cylinder between the mounting plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The tape dispenser 10, for removing strips of tape 11 from the rolls 12 is comprised of a substantially L- shaped base 13 which is preferably, but not necessarily, fabricated from sheet material, such as sheet metal. The base 13 has a mounting plate 14 and an upright front flange 16, the upper edge portion 17 of which is bent horizontally so that it is substantially parallel with the mounting plate 14 and extends in the same direc tion from the front flange 16.

An elongated cutting element 18, having a lengthwise cutting or serrated edge 19, is rigidly secured to the upper end of the front flange 16 by a clamp member 22 which is mounted on the front flange 16 by screws 23. The cutting edge 19 of element 18 projects slightly above the upper edge portion 17 so that the new outer end portion of the tape 11 can adhere to and be held in place by the upper edge portion 17 after a tape cutting operation has been performed.

The clamp member 22 has upwardly projecting, integral ears 26 and 27 which guard the opposite, otherwise dangerous, ends of the cutting edge 19 on the element 18.

A channel-shaped support member 28 has a web 29 which is secured to the mounting plate 14, as by welding, and a pair of parallel upright flange plates 32 and 33 which are both preferably perpendicular to the front flange 16. The support member 28 is preferably adjacent the rear end of the mounting plate 14.

The upper edges 36 and 37 of the flange plates 32 and 33 preferably define a plane which slopes downwardly and rearwardly, in a direction away from the front flange 16. However, under some circumstances, it may be advisable to have this plane parallel with the mounting plate 4 or even sloping downwardly and frontwardly.

A hollow cylindrical roll holder 38 is somewhat longer axially than the distance between the remote sides of the flange plates 32 and 33. Said roll holder may be fabricated from metal, plastic, rigid pressed materials or the like, and it has a pair of slots 41 and 42 near the opposite ends thereof which open in the same radial direction. The slots preferably define planes substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical roll holder and they are located so that the upper edge portions of the flange plates 32 and 33 are slideably, but preferably snugly, receivable into the slots 41 and 4.2, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the slots 41 and 42 preferably diametrically extend approximately half way through the roll holder 38.

It will be apparent that holders 38 of various diameters may be furnished with a given base 13 to accommodate tape rolls of different diameters. Moreover, a single holder 38 may have two or more sections of different diameters.

The upper edges 36 and 37 of the flange plates 32 and 33, respectively, have recesses or grooves 43 and 44, respectively, which open upwardly near the rear ward ends of said edges. The grooves 43 and 44 are slightly wider than the thickness of the material in the roll holder 38 so that portions of said roll holder adjacent the rearward ends of the slots 41 and 42 can be received downwardly into said grooves 43 and 44, respectively. This interlock positively opposes relative movement between the flange plates 32 and 33 and the roll holder 38.

The mounting plate 14 may be provided with openings 46 for securing said dispenser upon a surface, such as a counter (not shown), by means of conventional screw means, not shown.

OPERATION Although the operation of the above-described dispenser will be apparent to persons skilled in the art following a reading of such description, the operation will be briefly summarized hereinafter for convenience.

While the dispenser it) can be operated without being anchored upon the upper surface of a table or counter, as by hand-holding the dispenser in position upon said surfaces, it is at least desirable to anchor said dispenser by means of screws inserted through the openings 46 in the mounting plate 14. One or more rolls 12 of adhesive tape are sleeved upon the cylindrical roll holder 38 after which the roll holder is placed on the flange plates 32 and 33 so that the upper end portions thereof are snugly received into the slots 41 and 42. Portions of the cylinder at the ends of such slots are slidably received into the grooves 43 and 44. The free end of the tape 11 on each of the rolls 12 is then loosened and pulled away from the roll and, if desired, the free end is adhered to the upper surface of the upper edge portion 17 by pressure so that the tape is readily available for manual grasping and use.

When it becomes desirable to remove a piece of tape 11 from one of the rolls 12, the said tape is grasped between the upper edge portion 17 and the roll 12 and raised upwardly so that it can be moved forwardly of the cutting edge 19 a distance necessary to provide the desired length of tape to be detached from the roll. The hand grasping the tape is then moved downwardly so that the tape comes into engagement with the cutting edge 19 after which the piece of tape is severed from the remainder of the tape on the roll in the usual manner.

The upper edge 17 cf the front flange iGis loii ateEl so that the new free end of the tape will normally be pressed against such edge portion during the cutting operation and, accordingly, will remain in that position after the cutting operation is performed where it can again be easily grasped.

when it becomes desirable to replace or change a roll of tape, it is necessary only to raise the roll holder 38, remove one of the rolls and replace it with another. The roll holder is then placed back onto the flange plates 32 and 33, as described above.

Alternatively, relative horizontal movement between said roll holder and the plates 32, 33 can be effected by disposing one of the slots 41, 42 and its corresponding plate 32, 33 at an angle to the other slot and plate, such angle being around a vertical axis. Thus, the roll holder would be wedged against movement toward and away from the cutting element 18.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device for dispensing severable strip means from a roll thereof having a circular opening therethrough, comprising:

base means having upwardly extending severing edge means;

cylindrical roll support means having a pair of spaced slots formed therein and opening in substantially the same radial direction and defining substantially parallel planes which are substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of said roll support means;

a pair of spaced and substantially parallel plate means secured to said base means and projecting therefrom in substantially the same direction as said severing edge means, the upper edge portions of said plate means being disposed for slideable reception, respectively, into said slots in said roll support means; and

interlock means between said roll support means and said plate means for positively opposing movement of said roll support means relative to said plate means in a direction toward said severing edge means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said base means includes a substantially horizontal mounting member and an upright member fixed to and projecting upwardly from said mounting member, and wherein said severing edge means is elongated and secured to the upper end of said upright member; and

wherein said plate means are fixed to said mounting member and project upwardly therefrom, said plate means being substantially perpendicular to said edge means.

3. A device according to claim 2,wherein said base means is substantially L-shaped and said upright member has an upper edge portion substantially perpendicular thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom; and

wherein said severing edge means has a cutting edge projecting slightly above said upper edge portion of said upright member.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said interlock means includes notch means formed in the upper edge portions of said plate means and portions of said support means slidably receivable into said notch means; and

wherein the central axis of said roll support means is at approximately the same vertical distance above said mounting member as the cutting edge of said severing means.

5. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said plate means are the flanges of a substantially channelshaped member, the web of which is rigidly secured to said mounting member;

wherein the upper edges of said flanges of said channel shaped member are sloped downwardly away from said severing edge means;

wherein said roll support means is a hollow cylinder having an axial length greater than the spacing between said flanges; and

wherein said downwardly sloping edges have, near the ends thereof remote from said severing edge means, aligned recesses for receiving portions of said hollow cylinder when said upper edges are disposed within said slots.

6. An adhesive tape dispenser for supporting plural rolls of adhesive tape and for effecting severence of the tape from said rolls, comprising:

a substantially L-shaped base member having a substantially horizontal mounting flange and an upright flange;

cutting edge means secured to the upper end of said upright flange and having a substantially horizontal cutting edge at the upper end thereof;

a pair of parallel spaced and upright plate means secured to said mounting flange and having upper edges disposed approximately the same distance above said mounting flange;

a hollow cylindrical member having a pair of transverse slots therein near the opposite ends thereof, each slot defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical member, the upper edges of said plate means being slideably receivable into said slots, and said rolls of adhesive tape being slideably and rotatably mounted upon said cylindrical member between said plate means; and

notches in the upper edges of said plate means for receiving portions of said cylindrical member whereby relative movement between said cylindrical member and said plate means toward and away from said cutting edge means is positively opposed.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6,wherein said upper edges of said plate means are parallel, substantially equidistant from said mounting flange and sloping downwardly away from said cutting edge means.

8. A dispenser for supporting plural rolls of strip material and for effecting severance of the strip material from said rolls, comprising:

substantially rigid base means including a base pornon;

severing edge means fixedly mounted on said base means, said severing edge means being spaced from said base portion and including a cutting edge;

a hollow substantially cylindrical roll support member, stationarily but removably mounted on said base means, said roll support member being adapted to have plural rolls of strip material rotatably supported directly thereon;

said roll support member having a pair of axially spaced narrow slots formed therein, which slots open in substantially the same radial direction and define planes transverse of the central longitudinal axis of said roll support member, said slots extending diametrically of said roll support member at least approximately half-way therethrough;

said base means further including a pair of spaced plate members fixedly secured to said base portion and projecting therefrom,the upper edge portions of said plate members being slidably receivable into said slots for stationarily but removably supporting said roll support member on said base means; and

interlock means connecting said roll support member and said plate members for positively opposing movement of said roll support member relative to said plate members in a direction toward said cutting edge.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said base means includes a substantially L-shaped base member constructed from sheet-like material and including first and second substantially planar plate-like leg portions, said first leg portion comprising said base portion, and said second leg portion being fixedly connected to one end of said first leg portion and projecting upwardly therefrom, said severing edge means being fixedly secured to said second leg portion adjacent the upper end thereof, and said pair of plate members each being substantially planar and projecting upwardly from said first leg portion in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto, said plate members having the lower edges thereof disposed adjacent the opposite edges of said first leg portion adjacent the other end thereof. 

1. A device for dispensing severable strip means from a roll thereof having a circular opening therethrough, comprising: base means having upwardly extending severing edge means; cylindrical roll support means having a pair of spaced slots formed therein and opening in substantially the same radial direction and defining substantially parallel planes which are substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of said roll support means; a pair of spaced and substantially parallel plate means secured to said base means and projecting therefrom in substantially the same direction as said severing edge means, the upper edge portions of said plate means being disposed for slideable reception, respectively, into said slots in said roll support means; and interlock means between said roll support means and said plate means for positively opposing movement of said roll support means relative to said plate means in a direCtion toward said severing edge means.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said base means includes a substantially horizontal mounting member and an upright member fixed to and projecting upwardly from said mounting member, and wherein said severing edge means is elongated and secured to the upper end of said upright member; and wherein said plate means are fixed to said mounting member and project upwardly therefrom, said plate means being substantially perpendicular to said edge means.
 3. A device according to claim 2,wherein said base means is substantially L-shaped and said upright member has an upper edge portion substantially perpendicular thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom; and wherein said severing edge means has a cutting edge projecting slightly above said upper edge portion of said upright member.
 4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said interlock means includes notch means formed in the upper edge portions of said plate means and portions of said support means slidably receivable into said notch means; and wherein the central axis of said roll support means is at approximately the same vertical distance above said mounting member as the cutting edge of said severing means.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said plate means are the flanges of a substantially channel-shaped member, the web of which is rigidly secured to said mounting member; wherein the upper edges of said flanges of said channel - shaped member are sloped downwardly away from said severing edge means; wherein said roll support means is a hollow cylinder having an axial length greater than the spacing between said flanges; and wherein said downwardly sloping edges have, near the ends thereof remote from said severing edge means, aligned recesses for receiving portions of said hollow cylinder when said upper edges are disposed within said slots.
 6. An adhesive tape dispenser for supporting plural rolls of adhesive tape and for effecting severence of the tape from said rolls, comprising: a substantially L-shaped base member having a substantially horizontal mounting flange and an upright flange; cutting edge means secured to the upper end of said upright flange and having a substantially horizontal cutting edge at the upper end thereof; a pair of parallel spaced and upright plate means secured to said mounting flange and having upper edges disposed approximately the same distance above said mounting flange; a hollow cylindrical member having a pair of transverse slots therein near the opposite ends thereof, each slot defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical member, the upper edges of said plate means being slideably receivable into said slots, and said rolls of adhesive tape being slideably and rotatably mounted upon said cylindrical member between said plate means; and notches in the upper edges of said plate means for receiving portions of said cylindrical member whereby relative movement between said cylindrical member and said plate means toward and away from said cutting edge means is positively opposed.
 7. A dispenser according to claim 6,wherein said upper edges of said plate means are parallel, substantially equidistant from said mounting flange and sloping downwardly away from said cutting edge means.
 8. A dispenser for supporting plural rolls of strip material and for effecting severance of the strip material from said rolls, comprising: substantially rigid base means including a base portion; severing edge means fixedly mounted on said base means, said severing edge means being spaced from said base portion and including a cutting edge; a hollow substantially cylindrical roll support member, stationarily but removably mounted on said base means, said roll support member being adapted to have plural rolls of strip material rotatably supported directly thereon; said roll support member having a pair of axially spaced narrow sloTs formed therein, which slots open in substantially the same radial direction and define planes transverse of the central longitudinal axis of said roll support member, said slots extending diametrically of said roll support member at least approximately half-way therethrough; said base means further including a pair of spaced plate members fixedly secured to said base portion and projecting therefrom, the upper edge portions of said plate members being slidably receivable into said slots for stationarily but removably supporting said roll support member on said base means; and interlock means connecting said roll support member and said plate members for positively opposing movement of said roll support member relative to said plate members in a direction toward said cutting edge.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said base means includes a substantially L-shaped base member constructed from sheet-like material and including first and second substantially planar plate-like leg portions, said first leg portion comprising said base portion, and said second leg portion being fixedly connected to one end of said first leg portion and projecting upwardly therefrom, said severing edge means being fixedly secured to said second leg portion adjacent the upper end thereof, and said pair of plate members each being substantially planar and projecting upwardly from said first leg portion in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto, said plate members having the lower edges thereof disposed adjacent the opposite edges of said first leg portion adjacent the other end thereof. 